World Wide Sketchcrawl Cockatoo Island

Saturday was the 22nd Word-Wide Sketchcrawl (my 3rd). It was the perfect day for going to Cockatoo Island – not too hot, not too cold. Cockatoo Island is a large island in Sydney Harbour. It is an old shipyard with amazing machinery and old buildings. Everything is rusted and distressed and there were a lot of photo opportunities. There were eight of us. We caught the 10 am ferry out there, and my friend and I were last to leave catching the 3.15 ferry back.

There is a lower and upper area to the island, with the dock facilities being on the lower part (of course). There were many shapes of these old cranes, and one of the sketchcrawlers drew them in a way that each had their own personality. Fantastic. I wish I could do that.

It is always interesting to meet the other Sketchcrawlers and I enjoyed looking at everyone’s work over lunch at the Muster Station. I always learn something – every time. This time I learnt that there is free Life Drawing at the Sandringham Hotel in Newtown on a Monday – maybe 15 minutes walk from my house.

Cockatoo Island is easy to get to – once that you’ve been once. I’m sure I’ll go again. I took many photos, though the light was not great for photography. Maybe I’ll go out early and get some images with long shadows.

Where are my drawings? They’re in the preview. I’ll try again later – maybe there’s a glitch.

Solar plate etching

A couple of weeks ago I went to David Wilsher’s exhibition on an old ferry at Blackwattle Bay. David, who teaches drawing at the Sydney Community College was successful in gaining a residency on this old ferry. What a treasure trove of images in that area. I took many photos on the day, but the sun was high in the sky, and a week later we went to take photos at 9 a.m.

The last two Saturdays, I did a solar plate etching course with Seraphina Martin. Fantastic! Last week we made four plates and this week we printed them in various ways. The first and second ones  have been inked up a la poupee (different colour inks on different areas).  They are also both photographic, with a bit of Photoshop, then after they were printed onto acetate I worked into them with a stylus.

The last one has been inked up  in a dark brown  and viscosity printed. The first colour roll (the blue) was masked with torn paper, then it was rolled with a blend.  This one was drawn onto architects drafting film with Liquid Pencil, then some stronger darks were put in with a very thick propelling pencil.

I am really pleased with these three. Now I know the process I can’t wait to get some more solar plates and make some at home.

Blacksmith’s Open Day at Eveleigh Workshops

On Sunday I went to the Eveleigh Workshops to an Open Day at the blacksmith’s shop.  This isn’t just a little blacksmith shop that shoes horses, but a huge place that at one time built steam trains. The Open Day happened because the blacksmith has been served with an eviction notice, and they are trying to drum up support to get this wonderful place heritage listed. They’re planning to tear it down and build 16 storey blocks of apartments, with the only open space the forecourts of the buildings.

I took as many photos as I could. Many other people had the same idea. A lot of serious photographers there. I would have liked to draw also. One artist had come well-prepared, but there was really nowhere to sit, unless you ‘brought your own’. What wonderful images though!   I have a lot of drawing to do now.

Then it was time to ‘follow the piper” and go outside for speeches about the future of the complex. Clover Moore was there supporting the retention of the workshops, and a number of other interest groups also spoke. You can read more about it here. Though it was sunny, the wind was bitter, and I was getting a cold, so we went inside one of the other buildings and found a coffee shop. My cold is worse now, because of the wind, I suppose, but I’m so glad I went along. I have to write my letter to Frank Sartor now.

UPDATE. In Friday’s paper there was a tiny piece saying that the blacksmith can now stay for another 4 years. Thank goodness for that.